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NY To Car Insurers: Don't Use Education, Job To Set Rates

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New York state is moving to restrict the ability of auto insurers to use a customer's job or education to set premiums.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the proposed regulation Tuesday. The Democrat says it's necessary to stop an unfair and discriminatory practice that has nothing to do with a person's driving ability.

Insurers could still adjust rates based on a driver's education or job but they must justify the decision to state insurance regulators.

The proposed regulation must be published in the state register and opened for public comment before taking effect this summer.

The New York Public Interest Research Group hailed the move. A 2014 NYPIRG analysis found that drivers without a college degree who work a "non-professional" job often pay much higher premiums than a college-educated professional.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.
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